"Trampers rescued from Mt Ruapehu"

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Grant Alabaster.

Two trampers are being walked to safety after calling emergency services for help.

The man and woman started their walk on the Round the Mountain Track from Whakapapa Village to Whakapapaiti Hut at lunchtime on Saturday.

They alerted Police just after 7.30pm the same evening when they became lost.

Both were carrying some warm clothing and food with them.

While a helicopter was available, poor weather conditions meant it was unable to be used to rescue the pair.

Instead, a team of LandSAR volunteers set off that night and found the trampers shortly after 4am today.

The search party discovered them cold and hungry but in their sleeping bags.

The man and woman were cared for by the teams, who pitched tents to provide shelter.

The teams and the pair camped out and started to walk out at breakfast-time.

Police are pleased the two people are safe.

Central District Police would like to pass on their gratitude to the volunteer search teams that went to great lengths to find the pair, by negotiating swollen rivers in cold conditions and heavy rain.

With summer in full swing, now is a good time to remind trampers to plan ahead, take the necessary life-saving equipment and to be prepared.

Further advice for planning and preparing for any outdoor activity safely can be found at www.adventuresmart.org.nz (link is external).

ENDS

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